Toothpaste dispenser



Feb. 1, 1966 .1.Hr-:ADBERG TOOTHPASTE DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 18, 1964 IIIA INVENTOR. JAMES HEADBE RG FIC-3.5

Feb. 1, 1966 J. HEADBx-:RG

TOOTHPASTE DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG 7 Filed June 18, 1964 INVENTOR.

Il, l.

JAMES HEADBERG BY @Mm VIII United States Patent assess TGIHPASTE DISPENSER James Headberg, 1925i) S\ I. 156th St., Miami, Fla. Filed .lune 13, i964, Ser. No. 376,099 Claims. (Cl. Z22- 191) ri`his invention relates in general to paste dispensers and more particularly an automatic dispenser for toothpaste and like substances contained in collapsible tubes.

Prior to this invention there has been a long sought need for a device for automatically and sequentially dispensing predetermined quantities of toothpaste and like compounds in a precise hygienic manner.

Previous dispensers for pastes of this type were cornpletely manual with indenite means for dispensing predetermined like quantities and were wanting in hygienic characteristics.

Another complex prior dispensing device required an electric motor for a source of power and other complicated controls' which were too costly to be of interest to the domestic market.

The lpresent invention overcomes the above objections and disadvantages by the provision of a relatively simple manual or electro-mechanical dispenser in which sequential increments of longitudinal motion are applied to a conventional collapsible tube for ejecting a predetermined amount of paste therefrom in accordance with predetermined adjustment.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an electro-'mechanical dispenser for sequentially dispensing predetermined quantities of paste from a collapsible tube including a shutter means for opening and closing the nozzle from which the paste is ejected and for momentarily energizing the device.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a movable roller means for sequentially collapsing a col lapsible tube by predetermined increments of movement responsive to an adjustable frictional ratchet means motivated manually or by an electro-magnetic means.

These and other objects in two embodiments of the invention are described and shown in the following specification and drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a front elevation of the dispenser.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged rear view of the dispenser shown in FIG. l with cover removed.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional right side elevation taken through section line 4 4, FIG. l.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken through section line 5 5, FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is the same as FIG. 2 in changed position.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged left side elevation of the device shown in FIG. l with a portion thereof broken away.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken through section line 3 8, FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken through section line 9 9, FIG. 7.

FIG. l0 is a fragmentary elevation of an alternate construction for a manual control means.

FIG. ll is a cross sectional plan view taken through section line 1 11, FIG. l0.

Referring to FIGS. l and 2, the entire apparatus is retained in a main housing or casing 1, which is provided with conventional means for securing same to a vertical wall, not shown.

A removable door 2 is retained in the front of the casing by tongue and groove means at tie lower end thereof and a clip 3 and a screw 4 at the upper end7 as shown.

3,232,48 Patented Feb. l, i966 A power cord 5 is provided to be plugged into a source of electrical energy. A lever 6 is pivoted for oscillating movement on the bottom of casing 1 and terminates in a closure 7 adapted to embrace and close a dispensing nozzle 8, better shown in FIG. 3.

A screw 9 threaded through the upper side of casing 1 is provided to adjust the quantity of material ejected from the dispenser for each operation thereof. A coil spring 19 is retained around the screw 9 and positioned between the casing for retaining the preadjustment of the screw.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, an electro-magnet 11 is secured on a shelf member 12 by suitable screw means. The vertically movable core 13 of the electro-magnet 11 is positioned directly under the end of screw 9 and is secured to a round rod 14 journalled for reciprocation through shelf 12 and in the lower end of casing 1. A coil spring 15 around rod 14 and positioned between the core 13 and shelf 12 normally urges the core and rod in its upper idle position as shown in FIG. 4. Thus, it is apparent that the length of the stroke of the core 13 and rod 14, when the electro-magnet is energized, is determined by the adjustment of screw 9 which serves as an upper stop for the core.

A roller carriage 16 having integral projections 17 and i8 is slidably retained on rod 14 and on parallel rod I9, which rod is fixed by opposite ends thereof in shelf 12 and casing l respectively, as shown in FIG. 4. A cylindrical resilient roller 20 is journalled for rotation on a transverse axle 21 retained in carriage 16, better shown in FIG. 5, for vertical movement in close proximity with the inside surface of the door 2.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 5, and 9, a pair of4 friction grip pawls 22 are slidably secured on each rod 14 and 19 and hinged at one end thereof in a groove 23 in projection I and urged in the direction shown in full lines in FIG. 9 by independent springs 24 retained in adjacent pockets in projection 18 whereby the carriage will freely ratchcd in a downward direction on rods 14 and 19 and reversal is prevented by the frictional action of the pawl 22 engaging rod 19.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 8, the lever 6 is secured to the lower end of a vertical shaft 25 which is journalled in casing 1 and shelf 12 for permitting the lever to be moved from its idle position shown in FIG. 2 to its discharge position, shown in FIG. 6. Referring to FIG. 8, a cam 25 is secured to the upper end of shaft 25 for engagement with a switch operator 27 connected with and for operating a self restoring electric switch 28 secured to shelf 12. The manual movement of lever 6 to the discharge position shown in FIG. 6, will simultaneously expose the open end of the nozzle 8 and by virtue of the rotation of cam 26 operate switch 2S. Referring to FIG. 3, a torsion spring 29 anchored to and around shaft 2S is secured to casing l for urging lever 6 into its normal closed position, shown in FIG. 2. The electric circuit for the device, not shown, comprises a simple series connection between the electric switch 23 and the coil of the electro-magnet 11 with the remaining terminals of the switch and coil connected to opposite conductors of the power cord 5.

eferring to FIG. 4, a collapsible tube of paste 3l! is positioned in the device as indicated in dotted lines with the output orifice thereof positioned in the nozzle S and the opposite sealed end of the tube clamped between transverse jaw 31 secured in casing 1 and a recess 32 in the upper portion of the cover 2 of clip 3 and screw 4, as shown. -f

In operation and assuming that the power cord is plugged into a source of electric power, then the movement of lever 6 from the idle position shown in FIG. 2 to the operating position shown in FIG. 6, will simultaneously expose nozzle 8 and operate switch 28 and energize the electro-magnet 11. The core 13 of the electro-magnet then moves shaft 14 downward against the restraining action of the spring 14 which in turn will move carriage 18 downward by the same increment by virtue o-f the gripping action of pawl 22 on shaft 14. This downward movement will force roller 20 downward against tube- 29 as shown in FIG. 7 and the resultant flattening action will force a predetermined quantity of paste from nozzle 8. When the lever 6 is returned to its idle position by spring 24, the lcarriage position will be maintained by the action of pawl 22 on fixed rod 19 and the other pawl will permit the rod 14 to return to its idle position. It is now apparent that for each oscillat-ion of lever 6 the carriage and roller 20 will move downward by equal increments and eject like quantities of paste from nozzle 8, which quantity will be determined by the adjustment of screw 9.

When the tube is completely collapsed it is removed by opening the door 2, and the carriage 16 is moved upward to its initial position by manually releasing the pawls 22 from frictional engagement with the rods 14 and 19, and moving carriage 16 to its upper initial position.

The alternate or manual construction is shown in FIGS. l() and 1l, in which the shaft 14a is moved downward in predetermined increments in accordance with the adjustment of' screw 9a by a rotary cam 26a secured to shaft 25a in engagement with a collar secured to the upper end of shaft 14a, as shown. Y

It is now apparent that when the lever 6a is manually oscillated, this movement will move the shaft downward by virtue of the cam 26a a predetermined increment in accordance with the adjustment of screw 9a.

These and other modifications, utilizing the features described, are intended to come Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A dispenser for collapsible tubes containing viscous material comprising a means forming a casing,

a dispenser nozzle in and projecting from said casing,

a clamping means associated with said casing for holding a collapsible tube by the end thereof within said casing against theinner wall thereof with the outlet spout of said tube engaged in said nozzle,

a carriage secured in said casing for vertical reciprocation in a path adjacent said inner wall,

an electro-magnet securedl in said casing with the core thereof positioned for vertical reciprocation colinear with said carriage,

ratchet means cooperatively associated with said core and said carriage for moving said carriage downward a predetermined distance when said electromagnet is energized,

a roller means journalled for rotation in said carriage and positioned for colinear movement along said inner wall and against said tube for squeezing same when said carriage is sequentially motivated,

a source of electric energy,

manually operated switch means in said casing including a circuit means connecting said switch and said electro-magnet with said source of electric power whereby the manual operation of said switch will energize said electro-magnet and move said carriage and said roller a predetermined distance over said tube for ejecting a predetermined quantity of material from said tube through said spout and nozzle.

2. The construction recited in claim 1 including a manual lever means journalled in said casing for movement from an idle to an operated position,

said switch means cooperatively associated with lever dmeans for operation thereby when said lever is moved to said operated position. 3. The construction recited in claim 1 including a mani ual lever means journalled in said casing for movement from an idle to an operated position cooperatively associated with said switch means for operating same when said lever is moved to said operated position,

spring means biased between said `casing and said lever means for urging the latter into said idle position,

a cavity in said lever constructed to cover the outlet of said nozzle when in said idle position and adapted to expose said nozzle for dispensing therefrom when said lever is moved to said operated position.

4. ln a dispenser for a collapsible tube of the character described a means forming a housing,

a collapsible tube sealed at one end and having a spout at the opposite end thereof for retaining a quantity of paste material,

nozzle means in and projecting from said housing,

a clamp means detachably secured in said housing and adapted to retain a collapsible tube against an inner planar surface of said housing by the said one end thereof with the spout engaged in said nozzle,

a guide shaft fixed in said housing in spaced parallel relation to said cover,

a ratchet shaft journalled for reciprocation in said housing and positioned in parallel spaced relation to said guide shaft,

spring means biased between said housing and said ratchet shaft for urging same into a rest position,

a carriage means slidably journalled on said shafts for linear movement in close parallel proximity to said inner surface,

a friction ratchet pawl on said carriage means engaged with each of said shafts whereby the reciprocation of said ratchet shaft a predetermined distance will move said carriage against said tube a like distance and eject a predetermined quantity of said material from said nozzle,

an electro-magnet means in said housing connected to said ratchet shaft for reciprocating same when momentarily energized,

a source of electric energy,

electric switch means in said housing including a circuit connecting said electro-magnet means through said switch through said source of electric energy,

manual lever means journalled in said housing cooperatively related to said switch for operating same when said lever means is manually moved from an idle to an operated position,

said lever constructed and adapted to close said nozzle when in said idle position whereby said electro-magnet means will move said ratchet shaft and said carriage means a predetermined distance and eject a predetermined quantity of material from said nozzle when said lever is moved from said idle to said operated position.

5. In a dispenser for a collapsible tube of the character described a means forming a housing,

a collapsible tube sealed at one end and having a spout at the opposite end thereof for retaining a quantity of paste material,

nozzle means in and projecting from said housing,

a yclamp means detachably secured in said housing and adapted to retain a collapsible tube against an inner planar surface of said housing by the said one end thereof with the spout engaged in said nozzle,

a guide shaft fixed in said housing in spaced parallel relation to said cover,

a ratchet shaft journalled for reciprocation in said housing and positioned in parallel spaced relation to said guide shaft,

spring means biased between vsaid housing and said ratchet shaft for urging same into a rest position,

a carriage means slidably journalled on said shafts for 5 6 linear movement in close parallel proximity to said References Cited bythe Examiner H1116? Surface UNITED STATES PATENTS a friction ratchet pawl on said carnage means engaged with each of said shafts for reciprocating said ratchet 210561422 10/1936 CTOSIEY 222-101 shaft a predetermined distance to move said carriage 5 2,550,537 4/1951 Demck 222-105 against said tube a like distance and eject a. predetermined quantity of said material from said nozzle, EVERETT W KIRBY Prmary Examinerscrew adjustment means threaded through said housing RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Exmier coaxial with said ratchet shaft for adjusting the range Of reciprocation of Said shaft lo N. L. STACK, Asszstant Examiner. 

1. A DISPENSER FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES CONTAINING VISCOUS MATERIAL COMPRISING A MEANS FORMING A CASING, A DISPENSER NOZZLE IN AND PROJECTING FROM SAID CASING, A CLAMPING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID CASING FOR HOLDING A COLLAPSIBLE TUBE BY THE END THEREOF WITHIN SAID CASING AGAINST THE INNER WALL THEREOF WITH THE OUTLET SPOUT OF SAID TUBE ENGAGED IN SAID NOZZLE, A CARRIAGE SECURED IN SAID CASING FOR VERTICAL RECIPROCATION IN A PATH ADJACENT SAID INNER WALL, AN ELECTRO-MAGNET SECURED IN SAID CASING WITH THE CORE THEREOF POSITIONED FOR VERTICAL RECIPROCATION COLINEAR WITH SAID CARRIAGE, RATCHET MEANS COOPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID CORE AND SAID CARRIAGE FOR MOVING SAID CARRIAGE DOWNWARD A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE WHEN SAID ELECTROMAGNET IS ENERGIZED, A ROLLER MEANS JOURNALLED FOR ROTATION IN SAID CARRIAGE AND POSITIONED FOR COLINEAR MOVEMENT ALONG SAID INNER WALL AND AGAINST SAID TUBE FOR SQUEEZING SAME WHEN SAID CARRIAGE IS SEQUENTIALLY MOTIVATED, A SOURCE OF ELECTRIC ENERGY, MANUALLY OPERATED SWITCH MEANS IN SAID CASING INCLUDING A CIRCUIT MEANS CONNECTING SAID SWITCH AND SAID 